dknibbs

On Thursday 23 January 2014, Alfriston School junior swimming team had a very energetic day competing at Wycombe Abbey School Swimming Pool, with The Disability Schools Swimming Gala in the morning and the Inclusive Swimming Gala in the afternoon.

The schools competing in the morning were Stony Dean, Penn School and ourselves with each school successfully earning a trophy: Stony Dean winning the Boys trophy, Alfriston winning the Girls trophy and Penn School winning the overall trophy. The afternoon gala had a mix of 14 mainstream local schools and even though Alfriston School had had a successful morning, they also enthusiastically entered into the spirit of good competition and achieved some amazing Personal Bests times.

Many congratulations to Alfriston’s School Swimming team which consisted of the following pupils:

What a wonderful fun day was had by Alfriston School Year 9 girls on Thursday 7 November 2013 at the South Bucks Special Schools Sports Association Tennis Festival at Halton Tennis Centre. Other attending schools were Penn School, Chiltern Gate, Wendover House and Maplewood School.

Morning sessions were indoors working on hand and eye co-ordination and during the afternoon outdoor session the main focus was on forearm. The aim was to give the children a positive experience of tennis and possibly draw more children into the sport and see more children taking it up regularly. Each participant will receive a certificate from the Centre. Some of our girls already join our Tennis Club which is held after school on Wednesdays. The girls were all very excited, and some a little nervous at first but determined to enjoy the challenge. Quote from one student was “it was the best day ever”!

Year 8 girls from Alfriston recently took part in a ‘Tag Rugby Festival’ at Aylesbury Rugby Club.
When they arrived at the Rugby Club they received a warm welcome from the event organiser Tim Holmes, Rugby Development Officer from the RFU, as well as the team of coaches from Bucks New University. There was expert coaching and then matches were played on a rotational basis, (in teams of 7) playing against other schools in the area, which included Penn and Wendover.
All the girls who took part were excellent team players. They gave their all to sidestep players from the opposing teams, trying to keep their 2 coloured tags on their belts. Some showed that they were a ‘dab hand’ at taking the opposing teams tags and many made numerous dashes for the winning line!

All girls received a certificate for their participation in this exciting, fast-moving, fun event!

Dorney Feb 13What an exciting day Alfriston School’s Rowing Squad had at the South Bucks Schools Indoor Rowing Championships at the Olympic Venue of Eton College Rowing Centre Dorney Lake on 5 February 2013. There was an electric, vibrant atmosphere amongst all the competitors who keenly fought the Individual and Relay races. Our girls were treated to a masterclass by Mr Terry Hunter, Eton College Rowing Centre Head Coach and father of Olympic Champion Mark Hunter, at the start of the day and then the action really started. All our girls who entered really excelled themselves against the stiff competition of the mainstream schools. The other schools who participated were Burnham Grammar School, The Beaconsfield School, Beaconsfield High School, Chalfonts Community College and Burnham Park E-Act Academy. Also present was Tom Wilkinson who represented GB at 3 Senior World Championships, 6 World Cups, 3 Under 23 World Championships and one Junior World Championship. He is also 5 times National Champion and won 4 times at Henley Royal Regatta. At the end of a long day the girls were all awarded medals and returned to school with big smiles and very tired muscles.

All of the Alfriston Karate Club attended a local junior competition on Saturday, 20 October 2012 at Booker Judo Centre to either compete against other local mainstream Karate Clubs and/or to do a demonstration to the audience of parents, friends and supports of the 200 competitors. The atmosphere was electric with lots of encouragement coming from spectators, fellow competitors and coaches – everyone had an amazing time.

Stuart Wilson runs Alfriston Karate Club at Alfriston School on Saturday mornings, 11.00 am to 12.00 noon, during term time with a core of ten, regular participants from Alfriston, Stony Dean and Beaconsfield High Schools. We always welcome new members so please come along and have a taste of a Karate session, then you too could be involved in the next event – karate is a fun way to improve your level of fitness, a good discipline and a great way to make new friends.

The Annual Disability Tennis Festival took place on Wednesday, 17 October 2012, at Halton Tennis Club with Heritage House School, Maplewood School, Penn School and Alfriston School participating in the activities throughout the day. All of Alfriston year 9 pupils worked on skills during the morning and then after lunch played fun games. Halton Tennis Club has such wonderful facilities which the participants thoroughly enjoyed using, especially the numerous indoors courts and during the sunny spell, the excellent outdoor courts. Halton Tennis Club coaches were led by Alex Barnes who delivered fun and energetic sessions for all abilities. Our year 9 pupils had a great experience and have been encouraged to attend the disability courses which are run at the Halton Tennis Club on Thursday and Friday twilight sessions. If you’re interested in your daughter attending such a tennis course, kindly contact Mrs Knibbs at Alfriston School. Very well done to all of Alfriston Year 9 who worked so very hard throughout the day and were superb ambassadors for the school.

3rd September 2012 – 10th September 2012
Wow what a wonderful summer full of sport we have had with the Olympics and Paralympics, but it did not stop there as a group of girls selected from year 10 and year 11 have been involved in the Spirit in Motion – Finland Project. In the past Alfriston have successfully worked on projects with Green Park and once again a bid had been granted for a group of pupils from a disability school in Finland to spend a week at Green Park with eight of our pupils to engage in a programme of activities with a focus on the Paralympics and to follow the Paralympic values.
Our Finnish visitors arrived before the start of our new academic year, so Alfriston group gave up some of their holiday to engage in a programme of activities which included:
• A visit to Stoke Mandeville to see the Paralympic exhibition which told the
story of how the Paralympics began, along with a taster of Wheelchair
Tennis and the Ability Bikes. The press were there to report the visit and
Meridian TV recorded the occasion of the unique Project – you may have
seen either or both of the reports.
• Numerous activities at Green Park from low ropes, archery, climbing,
cargo nets, challenges and orienteering.
• The Finnish group had a visit to Alfriston School and joined in with the
preparation sessions for the day at the Paralympics, followed by a day at
the Olympic Park with Alfriston school which they thought was awesome.
• A cultural visit to Windsor Castle and a demonstration with samples of
making fudge.
• A tour of the Olympic and Paralympic Rowing Centre at Dorney Lake.
• A visit to Wycombe Museum to sample some of our local history and a
session on Paralympic Logo Felt Making.
• A visit to Odds Farm.
• An evening at Aylesbury Disability Youth Club
• Sessions of 1:1s throughout the Project to work on personal development.
• A celebration of the Project concluded with a party at Alfriston School
with the groups sharing their experiences.
Alfriston pupils appreciate that they have had an amazing experience and are now working towards the second part – they are awaiting confirmation of going to Finland to meet again their Finnish friends to engage in snow activities and to visit their school in Kuopio.